Improvement in apparatus for measuring and saving liquids



C. PPANNE. l Apparatus for Measuring and Saving Liquids.

Patented June 10, 1879.

NFETERS, PHOTO-LITHOGRAPNER. WASMINGTQN D c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIGE,

CHARLES PFANNE, OF VASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNCE CF ONE-HALF HIS EIGHT T() HERMAN STIEBELING, 0F SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN APPARATUS OR MEASURING AND SAVING LQUIDS.

Specification forming part ci" Letters Patent N0. 216,450, dated .I une l0, 1879; application Filed April 9.2, 1879.

To alt whom it may concern.-

` Be it known that I, CHARLES PFANNE, a subject ot' the German Emperor, residing' at lVashington, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Measuring and Saving Liquids, of which the following is a specilieation.-

This invention relates to the class of inventions called liquid-measures; but it comprehends an invention not hitherto exhibited in that class.

The object ot' my invention is to furnish an apparatus whereby a retailer ot beer or alehouse keeper may provide his customers, at short notice, with a pint or other measure of the liquor in the vessel they present. Nevertheless, the uses ol' the device are not confined to the measuring ot' malt liquors.

It has been a matter of common notice that upon a purehasers asking for a pint or a quart of beer, and presentin g a pitcher or j u g, the tapster has been compelled to lose time while the foam was subsidin g in measuring out an exact quantity. Some purchasers insist upon having the vessel. first weighed and then filled with a weight of liquor corresponding to the measure demanded. The inconvenience ot this is obvious; but my invention, while looking to a remedy for this, seeks also to save the drip for use, as may be desired, and in the manner well known to tapsters.

Illy invention consists in the combination, with the counter-balance and index of a measuring-scale, ot' a perforated or drip-support pan or chamber-platform and a drip -receptacle or saving-chamber, and ot' other matter specilied.

In 'the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents a view in perspective of my apparatus; Fie. 2, a vertical section; and IliO. 3, a top view of the index-operating mechanism.

The drip-receptacle or saving-chamber A is of suitable form and attached to the keg, counter, or other part of the furniture of a bar-room in such manner that the drip-supporting pan or chamber-platform B shall be sufficiently below the spigot or tap to permit said chamber-platform to receive the glass, mug, pitcher, or jug, whereby the said vessel may receive its measure of liquor and be conveniently served to thc purchaser. This saving-chamber A may rest on a suitable stand or platform, or may hang from its attachinglugs ay a, and it has a waste-cock or spigot, b, from which v the accumulated drip may be drawn.

The chamber-platform B is a pan, preferably circular, provided with afalse perforated bottom, c, which latter is removable for the purpose ot cleaning the chamber. It also has an escape-spout, d, from which the liquid ilows into the saving-chamber.

The supports for the chamber-platform E consist of two rods or stems, c e, which are adapted to move vertically in hollow guidestandardsj'f, which latter rise from a bottom disk, g, resting upon the bottom ot the saving-chamber A when the apparatus is in operation. There is a counter-balance, D, between these guides j", attached at the top to a disk, It, and at the bottom to a cross-head, 7:, the latter being adapted to move up and down in slots fi of said guides a suliicient distance.

Pulleys and cords t ma o operate the indexpointer p as the said cross-head descends, and

it is caused to descend bythe pressure brought upon it bythe stems c c, which bear down upon it at each side as the weight of the jug being lled upon the chamber-platform B increases, and which rise again when the jug or pitcher is lifted off the said platform.

I provide for the weighing mechanism just described a' tubular .inclosing-case, E, well assured at the bottom against percolation ol liquid, and rising centrally' from the bottom of the saving-chamber, and from which the said weighing mechanism may be removedwhen desired. A detent, Ir, on the disk 7L and a slot, s, in the ease E prevent the weighing mechanism from turning.

The savin g-ehamber has a semieircular front, preferably; but this is only made so for convenience, and for the purpose of having a marked scale of measures, F, capable of being reached at all peints by the index-pointer p in its movement; but the chamber might be square, and have a proper scale-plate attachment.

The scale may have a single, double, or triple row ot' measures, according to the liquids dispensed from the apparatus; but in beer and and ale generally the relation of Weight to .liquid or wine measure is of a pound to the Y use it, when reference is made to the drawings.

In using the apparatus, place the beer-mug, pitcher, or other vessel upon the chamberplatform, and, looking at the scale, its weight will be indicatedf-say, at two pounds. Itis only necessary then to let the beer flow into it from the spigot until the scale indicates three pounds, when the purchaser is furnished with an exact pint of beer. l It will be observed that all the parts of my apparatus are capable of separation for clean- ',ing purposes-a matter of considerable importance. v

It will be seen also that every particle of the overilow from glass or pitcheris saved for the .spout d from the chamber-support pan disv charges into the saving-chamber. v

The pan or chamber-platform B is supported at a height above -the saving-chamber sufricient to permit of' the proper descent to make the requisite measures.

Everypartof the apparatus may be stamped out of metal except some minor parts, and it can be manufactured for an almost insignicant cost, and will readily sell.

For the purpose of excluding llies and gnats, I provide a cover, M, for the saving-chamber.

.This cover has a central collar, X, which ts over the inclosing-case E. It is supported upon thevanged rim of the saving-chamber. This cover also, to a certain extent, preserves the beer in the chamber from contact with the air. A simple gauze covering would be enough to exclude insects.

I am aware that measuring-cups ,have been devised for indicating the measure of liquids by weight, and that numerous liquid-measuring appliances have been used wherein the drip returns to the reservoir. Such matters are utterly foreign to my purpose, and comprehendV utterly different mechanisms. My design and purpose have been fully stated above.

I claiml. In an apparatus for measuring and saving liquids, the combination ot' the counter-balance and index of a spring-scale With a'discharging cbambered perforated support-pan for the vessel to be filled and a saving-receptacle, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. In an apparatus for measuring and saving liquids, the combination, with the counter- 

